In this conversation, we sit down with Joe Votava, CFP®, JD, CPA, a pioneering figure in the profession and the 1999 president of the International Association for Financial Planning (IAFP). Joe shares his firsthand recollections of the behind-the-scenes efforts that led to the historic merger of the IAFP and the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (ICFP). This unification led to the establishment of the Financial Planning Association in 2000. We explore what drove the merger, how the vision came together, what it took to get it done, and how it continues to shape the Association and the profession 25 years later. This is a rare opportunity to hear from someone who helped lay the foundation for what FPA has become.